We asked our ‘Friends of the SFO’ – which is another term for our Newsletter subscribers – to let us know why they are interested in the orchestra.
Here are some of the (anonymised by us) responses we received. As you’ll see, it’s not necessarily only the music that makes the SFO “experience” memorable.
Maybe you can see your own circumstances in some of these messages.
Maybe that will encourage you to become a Friend and Newsletter subscriber as well?
(Remember, it’s free!).
I love reading the newsletter and print it off and pass to my elderly Scottish father for him to read too. It’s always full of interesting articles. We were lucky enough to see you perform at the Royal Concert Hall in Nottingham a few years ago and hope one day to see you back here.
SFO Friend, Nottingham area, England
Hi, I live in America. I subscribe to your newsletter simply because I’ve been a huge fan of the SFO for years, so I like keeping track of what you’re up to!
SFO Friend, U.S.A.
I am from Cheshire, England. I picked up some SFO DVDs and CDs on a trip to Edinburgh years ago and am subscribed to hear about upcoming concerts and hope there’s one not too far away from myself that I can attend. But it’s also good to see what’s happening with the SFO and enjoy reading the articles. Keep up the good work
SFO Friend, Cheshire
I started attending the SFO concerts in the Concert Hall in Glasgow a good number of years ago, for two reasons: firstly, because my cousin plays in the orchestra; also, because I remembered John Mason from the Douglas Ewart High School in Newton Stewart. John, who lived in Wigtown at the time, was a talented musician who performed in school concerts. He didn’t know me at the time because he was in sixth year when I was in first year. Suffice to say, after the first SFO concert I attended, I was hooked, and haven’t missed a Glasgow / Paisley concert since. I now live in Dumbarton, and the Glasgow / Paisley concerts are handy for me to attend. It is disappointing that the numbers attending the Glasgow area concerts have been dropping over the past few years. I had never been in Paisley Town Hall until this year’s concert, but was delighted with it as a concert venue, and hope you can still keep it in your programme for next year. Thank you for providing such an entertaining evening, with excellent comperes over the years, from Jim McColl in the early days to Gary Innes now, who have also added to the entertainment, in addition to excellent singers and pipe bands. I look forward to attending many future concerts.
SFO Friend, Dumbarton
Many thanks for the update. I should like to be kept in touch to enjoy the orchestra when I can.
SFO Friend
We’re in Wisconsin, USA. We watch your DVD at home. Love your music and enthusiasm! We travel to Scotland and hope to see you live in concert!
SFO Friends, Midwest USA
In August 2024, I attended your concert in Moffat and it was splendid. I am an exiled Scot living in the heart of England and was introducing a friend to your music. I had been in touch previous to the concert to ask if you would be playing ‘Highland Cathedral’, a particular favourite of both mine and my late husband who passed away earlier in 2024 and this tune was played at his Celebration of Life. I noted that it was not on the programme but, during the interval when I made purchases, I engaged with one of your fiddlers who said to listen out as a request had been made. I was so delighted that your young piper played it so magnificently. He told me at the end he was very nervous but it didn’t show. This made my evening so, if the request had been mine, I am truly grateful so please pass on my thanks.
Keep up the good work.
SFO Friend, Exiled Scot in the Heart of England
So disappointed you are not having concerts in Glasgow. We enjoyed the concerts in Glasgow Royal concert hall over many years. I know the numbers attending got less. My husband and I were at the last one within the smaller venue. We also got stuck in the lift so a memorable evening. Hope you will consider coming back to Glasgow.
SFO Friends, Glasgow
I am currently working in Dubai, and look forward to receiving the SFO Newsletters, to keep in touch with the upcoming schedule, so that I can try to attend one of the concerts when I am visiting Scotland. The reports on the concerts – and the various stories on historical events – are very interesting. I like to keep up my interest in Scottish Music and Culture, being a Past Chieftain of the Caledonian Societies in Dar es Salam, Tanzania, and in Mumbai, India.
SFO Friend, Dubai
My reason for subscribing to SFO is to find out if your tours will ever bring you back to Canada. We found you on a website way back and went to listen to a concert your group gave in Prince George, British Columbia. We absolutely loved your energy and music and have wanted to go back but are now in our very late 70s. However, we can still dream.
SFO Friends, British Columbia, Canada
Thank you for your Newsletter which we really appreciated, advising us of the SFO’s activities and events. We dip into the SFO website on a regular basis as we thoroughly enjoy the concerts which we have been attending for many years. We always check when you will next be performing in Aberdeen as we like to make sure it is a date in our diaries. Thank you again and sending the SFO every good wish for the future.
SFO Friends, Aberdeenshire
My sincere thanks for sharing this wonderful (100th) edition of the SFO Newsletter, it was an absolute “must” read and was full of fantastic memories and great people. My father and mother followed the Orchestra from its inception until, sadly, they both passed away. I was introduced to the Orchestra by them and fell in love with it, which still holds good today. I cannot play a musical instrument (tone deaf!) but listen to one of the many recordings I have on an almost-daily basis as the music is so calming and stirring at the same time. I love it. The dedication of all who play and support the orchestra is simply amazing and all awards have been well-earned and are probably overdue. I can only wish you and the orchestra all the best going forward and look forward to many more concerts in the future.
SFO Friend, Scotland
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